An unlicensed doctor has been charged with causing an HIV outbreak in a remote village in northwestern Battambang province , local media report .

More than 800 panicked residents of Rokar village sought testing after reports of infections emerged last week . Some 106 people tested positive for HIV , according to the National AIDS authority .

A provincial court has laid three charges against the unlicensed doctor , Yem Chroeum , including intentionally transmitting the HIV virus and running a clinic without permission from the Ministry of Health , police said .

The police confirmed Chroeum used contaminated needles .

`` After questioning Yem Chroeum , he confessed he did order his son-in-law to burn down the evidence behind his house , and -LRB- treated -RRB- patients with negligence , as well as using the same needles to treat them , '' Chet Vanny , deputy police chief of Battambang province told the Phnom Penh Post .

Cambodia calls for investigation

Cambodia Prime Minister Hun Sen called for an inquiry into the mass HIV infection last week .

`` I call for a thorough investigation into the issue , '' Hun Sen said in a televised speech .

The Ministry of Health , the World Health Organization and UNAIDS have sent teams to the village to carry out more investigations and provide free testing and treatment services .

`` I urge everyone to stay calm and avoid listening to or spreading rumors , '' said Dr Mam Bunheng , minister of health in a press release .

`` We should also all fully respect the privacy of the affected families and ensure they do not face stigma and discrimination , '' he added .

UNAIDS estimates there are 76,000 people living with HIV in Cambodia . The country has been widely praised for its progress in tackling AIDS . New HIV infections have dropped by 67 % from 3500 in 2005 to 1300 in 2013 , according to UNAIDS .

Prime Minister Hun Sen announced last week that Cambodia is committed to stopping new HIV infections by 2020 . The government will allocate US$ 3.7 million of national funding to HIV treatment from 2015 to 2017 .

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An unlicensed doctor has been charged over an HIV outbreak in Cambodia

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Police confirm the doctor re-used needles while treating patients

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Health officials say 106 tested HIV positive , with over 800 seeking to be tested

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Stay calm and do n't spread rumors , says health minister